>A Surprising First Encounter With A Political Prisoner After Seven Years Of Incarceration Without Furlough- By Jila Baniyaghoub

Thursday June 16t, 2011 – The following is the heartbreaking account of internationally renowned journalist and women rights activist Jila Baniyaghoub’s* first encounter with Hamid Reza Mohammadi** [known as Maha] three days after he was finally granted a one week furlough from prison, after serving 7 years of his 11 1/2 year sentence at Evin prison.

He speaks quickly, as if he is more flabbergasted than happy. He is articulate, though at times it seemed as though he is having a hard time concentrating.

He is speaking and for the first time while visiting a prisoner just released from prison (a prisoner granted furlough), you don’t sense that familiar feeling. You’re not sure why your heart keeps beating. You’re not sure how to describe your feelings. What words should you use? Can you transfer your emotions through the skipping of your heart? The only thing you know for sure is that you are going through one of the most mind boggling experiences with a prisoner who has just been granted temporary furlough from prison.

He continues to speak and your heart aches incessantly, skipping a beat. There is a lump in your throat as you try very hard not to cry. You try hard to spare him your anguish.

After seven years behind bars, he has finally been granted furlough. Why then until yesterday did you not comprehend what it is like to behind bars for seven years? Until yesterday you had not understood that every legal framework across the globe, including Iran’s penal code views furlough as one of the fundamental rights of prisoners; a right that has never been excluded for political prisoners.

You have to see Mahan* [Hamid Reza Mohammadi’s nick name] in person to understand. You have to hear him explain how he has forgotten to connect with people. You have to hear him explain first hand that after seven years behind bars, he no longer has the ability to adapt to the outside world.

Mahan says that he is so used to being in a confined space, surrounded by the high walls at Evin that he cannot fathom the idea of freedom.

Mahan explains that though he has been home for only three days, he finds himself taking repeated showers and using the bathroom more than usual. He describes the utter joy of taking a shower and going to the bathroom without having to wait in line.

He continues to speak a mile a minute as though trying to convey seven years of memories in a few hours. You tell him he should go on a trip – that it is necessary after all these years…

He looks at you perplexed….

His mother sighs and says “A trip? He sat in the car for 15 minutes yesterday and became nauseous. While in the car, he was holding his head firmly between his hands, explaining that the ground beneath his feet felt as though it was parting. He could not tolerate being in a moving car. He asked us to stop the car so he could get out.”

You glance at the friends sitting around you. Everyone is perplexed; everyone is terrified; everyone feels strange; their eyes teary; the lump in their throats about to break into sobs…

In the three days since he was granted furlough, Mahan has been so excited he can barely sleep. He falls asleep for a few minutes only to wake up, assuming it is time for the prison guards to take a head count of the prisoners.

He tells his mother: “Just take me somewhere where I can walk for 150 meters without seeing a wall. That is all I ask… “

You recall reading in the diary of a political prisoner from the 80’s that even in that era they had allowed prisoners to picnic in Evin’s vast garden, and yet for years Mahan had no other dream but to stroll in a 150 meter space – presumably this desire is also strong amongst other prisoners at Evin.

Mahan continues to speak and you begin thinking of Ahmad Zeidabadi… Mahan continues to speak and your thoughts wonder off to Masoud Bastani… Mahan continues to speak and you think of Bahareh Hedayat and Nasrin Sotoudeh… Mahan continues to speak and you think of Bahman! What if they too are unable to tolerate fresh air when they are finally released from prison? The thought makes you shiver with fear….

Mahan is going to be on furlough from prison for another week. Before he is able to acclimate to his new environment, he will be forced to go back to prison. You keep asking yourself why they deny prisoners furlough?

If only, regardless of the charges against a prisoner, regardless of whether they are political prisoners are ordinary prisoners, their basic rights under the law, rights such as furlough from prison would be upheld… if only….if only…

Jila Baniyagoub

June 16th, 2011

* Translator’s Note: Jila Baniyaghoub is an internationally renowned Iranian journalist and women rights activist. She is Editor in Chief of Kanoon Zanan Irani and won the 2009 IWMF (International Women’s Media Foundation) Courage in Journalism Award for fearlessly reporting on government and social oppression, particularly as they affect women in Iran. Baniyaghoub is married to journalist Bahman Ahmadi Amouee, arrested in the aftermath of the 2009 rigged presidential elections, currently serving a 5 year sentence at Evin prison.

** Hamid Reza Mohammadi [known as Mahan] was arrested on March 17, 2005 at his home in Tehran. He was accused of association with the monarchist group Anjoman Padeshahi Iran. This is the first time he has been granted furlough from prison since his arrest and incarceration.